Lessons From a Quarantine – Week Four

In America, we glorify busy. We sleep less, stress more and hurry through life. This week in ‘Lessons from a Quarantine’ we are going to talk through one of the things that has become apparent during this time at home, which is the crazy pace of our lives. We will look at this fast pace by evaluating: 

1. The history of hurry.
2. The increase of stress.
3. The inability to rest.
4. How to slow the pace in our new normal.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus said it’s okay to get some rest!

Does ‘weary and burdened’ describe you? Are you trying to earn the rest that Jesus said He will give to us as a gift? You don’t have to earn it.

Psalm 127:2

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

God commands us to take one day a week where we stop all of the busyness and work and just rest and enjoy Him.

Genesis 1:3

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

For six days, God was breathing out. On the seventh day, He breathed out and was refreshed. If God refreshes Himself, why don’t you?

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

This verse is an invitation from Jesus to partner with Him and share our load. 

Matthew 11:30

“…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus isn’t saying that life is easy; but when we are connected to Him, He carries the significant burdens.

An easy life isn’t an option; an easy yoke is.

Here are four practices to finding rest through your relationship with Jesus:

1. Set regular routines in your life.
2. Encouragement – Encourage five people every day.
3. Silence and solitude – Get alone with God in an intentional way.
4.  Time – What do you need to say no to? What do you need to say yes to?